Queen Elizabeth II, 87, with Prince Philip, 92 is today in Rome fulfilling an invitation she had to reschedule in 2013 due to ill health. Last year the Queen was to meet Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano. Her one day visit to Rome brings her to a private lunch at the presidential Quirinale Palace with the Italian President and then to have tea with Pope Francis.

Her Majesty has meet several Roman Pontiffs, the last in 2010 when Pope Benedict made a pastoral visit the United Kingdom. She has met with popes since John XXIII with the exception of Paul VI. As the British monarch she is able to say she knew two saints: John and John Paul.

One wonders if the Queen and the Pope are meeting as sovereigns or as religious leaders. Elizabeth is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Likely a little of both.

It’s funny for Catholics to hear of the Queen being the head of the Church of England. But she is. Anglican way of doing things is foreign to my experience and so I am intrigued by what I read and hear about the CofE. She gently reminds the bishops and assembled laity that there are crucial challenges to face and exhorts them to heed Saint Paul. The Queen also dares to mention the recent visit of Pope Benedict to England in that protestant hall. As a point of contrast, read through the following address Her Majesty gave today to her ecclesial body: there’s a distinct difference in content and style between what is said by the Queen and how the Pope would say things. We need to pray that the Queen and her family come home to the bosom of Mother Church.

Your Graces, The
Convocations of Canterbury and York, duly called together in obedience to Our
Royal Writs, are on this day joined together in accordance with the Synodical
Government Measure 1969 and the House of Laity is added to them in accordance
with that Measure, so as to constitute the ninth General Synod of the Church of
England.

Those who serve the Church of England in its public ministry are
required to affirm their loyalty to its inheritance of faith as their
inspiration and guidance under God. They also declare their commitment to
bringing the grace and truth of Christ and making him known to those in their
care.

The opening of a new Synod is a moment when we can all give thanks for
the witness of those who have gone before, and pray for wisdom as you seek to
balance change and continuity in the decisions that lie ahead of you.

Next year
will see two important anniversaries. It will be four hundred years since the
publication of the Authorised Version of the Bible commissioned by King James,
and two hundred years since the foundation of the National Society for
Promoting Religious Education. Both developments had a lasting impact on the
life of the Church and the nation.

Pope Benedict XVI began his State and Pastoral visit to the UK today. Addressing Queen Elizabeth and all Britons in Scotland, His Holiness said:

The name of
Holyroodhouse recalls the ‘Holy Cross’ and points to the deep Christian roots
that are still present in every layer of British life. The monarchs of England
and Scotland have been Christians from very early times and include outstanding
saints like Edward the Confessor and Margaret of Scotland. … Many of them
consciously exercised their sovereign duty in the light of the Gospel, and in
this way shaped the nation for good at the deepest level. As a result, the
Christian message has been an integral part of the language, thought and
culture of the peoples of these islands for more than a thousand years. Your
forefathers’ respect for truth and justice, for mercy and charity come to you
from a faith that remains a mighty force for good in your kingdom, to the great
benefit of Christians and non-Christians alike.

Today, the United Kingdom
strives to be a modern and multicultural society. In this challenging
enterprise, may it always maintain its respect for those traditional values and
cultural expressions that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or
even tolerate. Let it not obscure the Christian foundation that underpins its
freedoms; and may that patrimony, which has always served the nation well,
constantly inform the example your government and people set before the two
billion members of the Commonwealth and the great family of English-speaking
nations throughout the world.

About the author

Paul A. Zalonski is from New Haven, CT. He is a member of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, a Catholic ecclesial movement, and an Oblate of Saint Benedict. Contact Paul at paulzalonski[at]yahoo.com.